Carrier projectiles

ABSTRACT

In carrier projectiles adapted to carry payloads which are ejected from the rear after the projectile base has been explosively blown away it is necessary to ensure that the blownaway base does not collide with the ejected payload. If elaborate braking devices are used they take up space which reduces the payload. The present invention provides a simple braking device which comes into action after the base is blown away and comprises a plate movably secured asymmetrically to the projectile base so as to be thrown out at right angles to the axis of base by centrifugal or spring forces, thus providing asymmetrical braking forces which divert the base from its original trajectory.

Elnite States Patent Prochnow et a1.

[ Oct. 30, 1973 CARRIER PROJECTILES Inventors: Jurgen Prochnow, Solingen; Walter Simon, Laurensberg, both of Germany Rheinmetall GmbI'I, Dusseldorf, Germany Filed: Jan. 27, 1972 Appl. No.: 221,281

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 3. 1971 Germany ..P 21 04 914.9

11.8. CI. 244/324, 244/327, 102/35.6 Int. Cl. F421) 15/16, F42b 13/32 Field of Search 102/34.4, 35.6, 37.6;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1919 Bergman 102/356 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1/1920 Great Britain 244/327 11/1919 France 244/327 2/1956 Great Britain 244/329 Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant ExaminerJames M. Hanley Att0rneyPaul M. Craig, Jr. et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT In carrier projectiles adapted to carry payloads which are ejected from the rear after the projectile base has been explosively blown away it is necessary to ensure that the blown-away base does not collide with the ejected payload. If elaborate braking devices are used they take up space which reduces the payload. The present invention provides a simple braking device which comes into action after the base is blown away and comprises a plate movably secured asymmetrically to the projectile base so as to be thrown out at right angles to the axis of base by centrifugal or spring forces, thus providing asymmetrical braking forces which divert the base from its original trajectory.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented Oct. 30, 1973 3,768,755

(CARRIER PROJECTILES This invention relates to a carrier projectile, for example a projectile stabilized by rotation, adapted to carry a payload which can be ejected towards the rear from the projectile body, and having a projectile base which can be explosively blown away, the base being provided with an aerodynamic brake device which comes into action after the base has been blown away. As such, expanding arms pivoted symmetrically to the projectile base are known, which come into action after the projectile base has been blown away to influence its further trajectory.

Known brake devices have for the most part the disadvantage that they require additional space in the projectile and limit the space remaining for the payload or make its accommodation more difficult. In addition, as the payload is ejected it can happen that the latter collides with the projectile base previously blown away and is damaged or destroyed. This danger exists particularly in cases where the payload is provided with a parachute which opens after ejection from the projectile.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a carrier projectile of the afore-mentioned type, with which the danger of damage to the payload by the projectile base after being blown away, is avoided and in which the brake device is arranged in or on the projectile base in such a way that substantially no additional space is required.

According to the invention there is provided a carrier projectile, adapted to carry a payload which can be ejected towards the rear from the projectile body, and having a projectile base which can be explosively blown away from the carrier projectile, the base being provided with an aerodynamic brake device which comes into action after the base is blown away, said brake device being movably secured asymmetrically to the projectie base. In projectiles stabilised by rotation the centrifugal forces acting on the brake device after the projectile base has been blown away bring about a displacement of the brake device, due to which the projectile base is diverted from its former trajectory by means of the air flow, over the asymmetrical braking device. In unrotated projectiles the deployment of the brake device is arranged to occur under the action of a spring.

In convenient and simple embodiments of the invention the brake device comprises a plate pivotable near the periphery of the projectile base about a pin parallel to the projectile axis. A likewise simple and spacesaving embodiment of the brake device comprises a plate mounted on the projectile base to slide at right angles to the projectile axis.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterised in that the brake device is arranged at the free end of a leaf-spring type mounting, which loosely covers a part of the periphery of the projectile base and at its other end is secured to the projectile base. The resiliency of the mounting produces a reliable and rapid deployment of the brake device, so that this embodiment is also suitable for unrotated projectiles.

In addition, the invention has the advantage that the brake devices can be arranged in or on the projectile base in such a way that on inserting the projectile base, the danger of any damage to the payload, which in many cases is delicate, e.g., includes a parachute, is avoided.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:-

FIGS. 1 and 2 are respectively front end view and cross-sectional view of a projectile base in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 3 is a front end view of the base of another embodiment, in which a pivoted segment is used,

FIG. 4 is a front end view of the base of another embodiment, in which a sliding plate is used, and

FIG. 5 is a front end view of the base of yet another embodiment, in which spring mounted braking device is used.

In the figures the projectile base has the reference numeral 1, which is inserted in appropriate manner in the rear end of a projectile body 2 shown in dot-dash line, in such a way that it can be blown away by an explosive charge detonated at a specific moment during the trajectory of the projectile.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the reference 3 indicates a brake device, which comprises an annular plate. This brake device is held loosely by means of a screw 4, which is arranged parallel to the axis of he projectile, near the periphery of the projectile base on its inner side in such a way that, after the projectile base is blown away, the plate 3 swings out about the screw 4 as a result of its asymmetrical mounting. Due to the air flow acting on the brake device which has swung out, the projectile base is effectively brought out of its former trajectory, so that the danger of a collision with a payload ejected from the projectile body is largely avoided.

The brake device according to FIG.3 comprises a plate 5 in the form of a segment of a circle, which is arranged in a corresponding recess 6 of the projectile base and, by means of a pin 7 at one end, is secured in the projectile base parallel to the projectile axis so as to enable it to pivot about the pin.

The brake device according to FIG.4., comprises a plate 9 mounted to slide at right angles to the projectile axis in a recess 8 located asymmetrically in the projectile base, which plate is guided by means of two guide slots 10a and 10b on two screws 11a and 11b provided in the projectible base. The method of operation of this base device is as afore-described.

The brake device according to FIGS. comprises a plate 12, which is arranged at the free end of a leafspring type mounting 13. The mounting loosely covers a part of the periphery of the projectile base and is secured to the base at the end remote from plate 12. In the manner of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the brake plate 12 can be arranged on the inner surface of the projectile base or alternatively in a corresponding recess 15 in the projectile base, in the manner described in FIG. 3. After the projectile base has been blown away the brake device is deployed by action of spring 13.

We claim:

1. A carrier projectile, comprising a body having a compartment adapted to carry a payload which can be ejected towards the rear from the body, and comprising a base secured to the body to act as a closure member to the compartment but which can be explosively blown away from the projectile, said base being provided with an aerodynamic brake means for braking said base after said base is blown away from the projectile, said brake means including a single brake plate means movably secured asymmetrically to the projectile base.

2. A carrier projectile according to claim 1, wherein said brake plate means is pivotally secured to said base by a pin positioned near the periphery of said base and arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the projectile.

3. A carrier projectile according to claim 1, wherein said brake plate means is mounted on said base to slide at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the projectile.

4. A carrier projectile according to claim 1, wherein said means for braking further includes a leaf-spring which loosely covers a part of the periphery of said base, said brake plate means being secured to one end of said leaf-spring means and the end of said leaf-spring means remote from said brake plate means being secured to said base.

5. A carrier projectile according to claim 1, wherein said brake plate means includes an annular ring pivotally secured to said base by a screw positioned near the periphery of said base, said screw having an axis arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the projectile.

6. A carrier projectile according to claim 3, wherein said plate means, in its inoperative position, is disposed in a recess provided in said base, said recess extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the projectile.

7. A carrier projectile according to claim 6, wherein said plate means includes a substantially flat plate pro vided with at least one guide slot extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the projectile, said guide slot receiving at least one screw for mounting said flat plate to said base.

8. A carrier projectile according to claim 2, wherein said plate means includes a substantially flat plate member in the form of a segment of a circle, said plate means in its inoperative position being disposed in a recess provided in said base. 

1. A carrier projectile, comprising a body having a compartment adapted to carry a payload which can be ejected towards the rear from the body, and comprising a base secured to the body to act as a closure member to the compartment but which can be explosively blown away from the projectile, said base being provided with an aerodynamic brake means for braking said base after said base is blown away from the projectile, said brake means including a single brake plate means movably secured asymmetrIcally to the projectile base.
 2. A carrier projectile according to claim 1, wherein said brake plate means is pivotally secured to said base by a pin positioned near the periphery of said base and arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the projectile.
 3. A carrier projectile according to claim 1, wherein said brake plate means is mounted on said base to slide at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the projectile.
 4. A carrier projectile according to claim 1, wherein said means for braking further includes a leaf-spring which loosely covers a part of the periphery of said base, said brake plate means being secured to one end of said leaf-spring means and the end of said leaf-spring means remote from said brake plate means being secured to said base.
 5. A carrier projectile according to claim 1, wherein said brake plate means includes an annular ring pivotally secured to said base by a screw positioned near the periphery of said base, said screw having an axis arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the projectile.
 6. A carrier projectile according to claim 3, wherein said plate means, in its inoperative position, is disposed in a recess provided in said base, said recess extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the projectile.
 7. A carrier projectile according to claim 6, wherein said plate means includes a substantially flat plate provided with at least one guide slot extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the projectile, said guide slot receiving at least one screw for mounting said flat plate to said base.
 8. A carrier projectile according to claim 2, wherein said plate means includes a substantially flat plate member in the form of a segment of a circle, said plate means in its inoperative position being disposed in a recess provided in said base. 